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Low white blood cell count and stomach/abdominal pain

Posted , 23 users are following.

Tyler654398
Tyler654398

Hello everyone,

I am trying to figure out possible causes of my symptoms. I've seen different doctors for the past couple of months and have yet to figure out what is wrong. I started crossfit in May and have lost twenty pounds until my doctor advised me to stop exercising completely in late October due to much fatigue I have been experiencing, and continue to experience today, until we find out what is going on. I am a 22 year old male, weighing approximately 158 and am 6 feet tall.

In mid-July I was started to feel a lot of discomfort in my stomach and abdominal area along with nausea, bloating, and constipation. It got worse after eating. All the symptoms left in early August but then came back in early September. So, I went to my family care doctor and he ex-rayed my stomach to show that there was air in my colon. He then referred me to a gastroenterologist. The gastroenterologist checked for blood in my feces and there was none and he did a CBC and CMP blood test. The only thing that came back wrong was a low white blood cell count. So for the next month, my family care doctor ordered three more CBC tests, along with a SED Rate test, Peripheral Smear (immaturity not observed), CRP C-REACTIVE PROTEIN, Parvovirus, IRON AND TBC, HIV, HEPATITIS PANEL ACUTE, EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS, and COMP METABOLIC PANEL blood tests. Everything was normal and good except that my white blood cell count values were low from 2.8-3.8 during that time, a high monocyte percentage of 11.8, and it was noted I have bilirubinemia. Through much of October and early November my symptoms went away again except for the fatigue but now I am experiencing much of the same symptoms again.

As of last week I was referred to a hematologist and he took my blood in four or five tubes. I go back in mid-December to see what he says.

The hematologist also asked me to go to a gi doctor while I wait so I did today. My gastrointestinal doctor said it was mostly out of his hands because all my blood tests only show a low white blood cell count. So, he put me on two medicines to help me use the restroom (#2) more frequently.

Could anyone lead me to possible causes of the low white blood cell count with the stomach/abdominal pain and the fatigue? I am quite nervous about what it could be because at this point I have no clue. Any help is appreciated. Thanks! 

1 like, 51 replies

51 Replies

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  • brown45840
    brown45840 Tyler654398

    Posted

    Hi Tyler,

    I am sorry to hear about this. I also have a low blood count and was trying to find out what was causing it, so after about five years a new doctor recommended a bone marrow test. That test revealed I had cll leukemia. Then Iater on I started a rash and I am still trying to find out the cause of that. My allergy test revealed that I am highly allergic. What I did that really help me was to change my diet. I stopped eating processed sugar, drink plenty of water, exercise daily and eliminated gluten. This has helped be feel much better. I suggest you might ask for an allergy test and maybe a bone marrow test. Good luck to you Terry!

  • lydia98881
    lydia98881 Tyler654398

    Posted

    Hi Tyler,

    II'm experiencing the same issues. I am a 21yrs old female and i have also been to the doctors about pain in my stomach/abdomen alongside nausea, bloating, and constipation. The doctors did a blood test and everything came out fine apart from... I also had a low white blood cell count! The doctor told has got me an appointment to have an ultrasound scan on my abdomen. I'm still waiting to receive a letter with my appointment date. But in the meantime, I wondered if you had any luck finding out the causes of your stomach/abdominal pain and low white blood cell count? It would be really helpful to know what is causing this as it has been going on for a long time and it does affect my life daily as I'm always worried that another episode might happen while I'm out or at work. 

    Thanks, Lydia 

    • tyler62672
      tyler62672 lydia98881

      Posted

      All that I've found it is that my gastroenterologist says I have IBS so I'm on a medicine for that. My hematologist has told me I have MGUS and is not concerned about my low white blood cell count which does not make sense to me at all. rolleyes Sorry I couldn't be of more help!

    • Natilia
      Natilia lydia98881

      Posted

      hello Tyler

      i'm going thru the same symptoms and tests, have you been able to find the cause or treat these issues?

      thank you!!

  • tina35770
    tina35770 Tyler654398

    Posted

    Hello Tyler and Lydia- my 21 year old son has the same symptoms as both of you. He has had a colonoscopy, cat scan and endoscopy and was told that his tummy is fine. He get bad gas and stomach pain when he eats and has lost lots of weight. He was told his white cell count was low and he has to go see a hematologist. He was totally fine until he got a bad stomach flu 2 years ago
    • lydia98881
      lydia98881 tina35770

      Posted

      Hi Tina, I’m sorry to hear your son is going though the same thing.  After having different tests and scans and finding nothing but low white blood cells my doctor is writing to the hematologist for advice on what could be wrong with me. Has your son been to see a hematologist? I would really like to know if you have been given a diagnostic as it would be really helpful for my own. 

      Thanks, Lydia x 

    • tina35770
      tina35770 lydia98881

      Posted

      Hi Lydia,

      My son has an appointment with the hematologist tomorrow. He has started taking Metamucil every night and that has helped his tummy quite a bit.

    • lydia98881
      lydia98881 tina35770

      Posted

      HI again Tina, my hematologist hasn’t answered my doctors letter for advice yet. I was wondering what your son was told by his hematologist? 

      Thanks, lydia 

    • tina35770
      tina35770 lydia98881

      Posted

      Hi Lydia the Hematologist ran a bunch of tests and confirmed that he did not have any type of blood disorder. Still not sure what is causing this
    • tyler62672
      tyler62672 tina35770

      Posted

      My hematologist says that MGUS is causing my low white blood cell count, but after online research that does not make sense. So, I'm not sure why mine is low.

  • stephanie67024
    stephanie67024 Tyler654398

    Posted

    Hi, I was wondering if anyone found anything out. My 10 year old son has the same symptoms. He goes to see a Hemoglobin specialist on Thursday. Any one find anything that gives relief to the stomach pain? He has been pain free for almost 2 weeks so I was hoping if was getting better but the stomach pain is back and I don't know what to do to help it. TIA.

    • tina35770
      tina35770 stephanie67024

      Posted

      The nightly Metamucil and small frequent meals helped my son a lot. Still not sure what is causing this
    • lakesha1982
      lakesha1982 stephanie67024

      Posted

      Did you find out what was wrong with your son? My daughter was hospitalized last year with stomach pain. Dr said it was a virus but she showed no signs of a virus. He white blood cells were low so she stayed 2 extra days, 5 total. She was released and ordered to get her WBC count tested a week later. They were still low. She has been in pain since last year on and off but becoming more frequent now. She sees a GI specialist; they ran test but cant tell me the problem. Does your son still have this problem.

    • tina35770
      tina35770 lakesha1982

      Posted

      He is better now. He was diagnosed with slow digestion that was caused by a terrible stomach virus. The name of the medicine my son took for slow digestion was called metoclopramide.

      His low blood cell count was caused by taking so much Nexium

    • shelley85069
      shelley85069 tina35770

      Edited

      Hello, I know this is an older post but wondering how your son is now and is his white blood cell count still back to normal? Having similar issues here.

    • Natilia
      Natilia shelley85069

      Posted

      hello Shelley

      i'm going thru similar issues have you been able to find out the cause?

      thank you!!

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